Health Sciences

Diploma in Public Health

The Diploma in Public Health is a programme that equips students with knowledge and practical skills in disease prevention, health promotion, environmental health, epidemiology and community health management. Offered at Gretsa University, Kisii University and Rongo University, the programme prepares students for technical roles in public health practice, disease surveillance and community health interventions.

The curriculum covers public health principles, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, communicable and non-communicable disease control, health promotion, community health, health systems management, nutrition in public health, occupational health and safety, public health research methods, health policy and industrial attachment. Students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical public health skills.

Kenya faces persistent public health challenges including infectious diseases, maternal and child health issues, environmental health risks and emerging non-communicable diseases. The programme responds to the need for trained public health personnel who can support disease prevention, health promotion and community health programmes across the country.

The programme is delivered through lectures, field practicals, community health surveys, laboratory sessions, research projects, group discussions and industrial attachment. Students gain hands-on experience in public health through supervised attachment in health departments, community health programmes or public health organisations.

Graduates pursue careers as public health officers, community health workers, disease surveillance assistants and health promotion officers in county health departments, NGOs, community organisations and public health institutions. They can also progress to a Bachelor of Science in Public Health or related degree programmes.

Prospective students should have interest in health, community development and disease prevention. The programme is suitable for students seeking careers in public health and community health practice.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 120,700
Private, up to: Ksh 83,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

8 subjects

Public Health Principles and Epidemiology
Biostatistics and Health Research Methods
Environmental Health and Occupational Safety
Communicable and Non-Communicable Disease Control
Health Promotion and Community Health
Health Systems Management and Health Policy
Nutrition in Public Health and Maternal Child Health
Industrial Attachment and Public Health Practice

Modules

8 in the programme

Public Health Principles and Epidemiology
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers public health principles, history of public health, epidemiology, disease causation, outbreak investigation, disease surveillance and epidemiological study designs.
Biostatistics and Health Research Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers biostatistics, data collection, data analysis, health research methods, study design, sampling techniques and research ethics in public health.
Environmental Health and Occupational Safety
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers environmental health, water and sanitation, waste management, food safety, occupational health and safety, workplace hazards and environmental health legislation.
Communicable and Non-Communicable Disease Control
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Covers communicable diseases, transmission modes, prevention strategies, immunisation, non-communicable diseases, risk factors and chronic disease management.
Health Promotion and Community Health
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers health promotion theories, health education, behaviour change communication, community health, community diagnosis and community participation in health.
Health Systems Management and Health Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers health systems, healthcare delivery in Kenya, health policy, health financing, health programme management and monitoring and evaluation of health programmes.
Nutrition in Public Health and Maternal Child Health
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers public health nutrition, nutritional assessment, malnutrition, maternal health, child health, immunisation programmes and reproductive health.
Industrial Attachment and Public Health Practice
Year 3Semester 112 creditsCore
A supervised industrial attachment in a county health department, community health programme or public health organisation, assessed through an attachment report and supervisor evaluation.

Specialisations

Epidemiology and Disease Control
Focuses on disease surveillance and outbreak investigation for careers as disease surveillance assistants.
Environmental Health
Specialises in environmental health and sanitation for careers as environmental health officers.
Health Promotion
Focuses on health education and behaviour change for careers as health promotion officers.
Community Health
Specialises in community health practice for careers as community health workers.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on epidemiology or environmental health, followed by a practical session on disease surveillance or community health assessment. Afternoon sessions may include a field visit to a community health programme, a biostatistics workshop, or preparation for industrial attachment. Students also work on public health research projects and community health surveys.

The trade offs

In its favour

Public health is a high-demand field with opportunities across county health departments and NGOs.
Graduates are registered with the Public Health Officers and Technicians Council (PHOTC).
Graduates can progress to a Bachelor of Science in Public Health or related degrees.

Against it

The programme requires strong science subjects and dedication to community health practice.
Public health work may involve field work in remote areas and handling sensitive health issues.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public56k to 121k

56k at Kisii University121k at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) self-sponsored

Private70k to 83k

70k at Outspan Medical College83k at Gretsa University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KMTC self-sponsor 121K, Kisii 56K/yr (educationnewshub.co.ke). Gretsa 83K (gretsauniv.ac.ke)

Students can access HELB loans. The government may offer sponsorships through KUCCPS. Health-focused NGOs may offer bursaries for public health students.

Funding options

HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in accredited programmes at recognised institutions

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Certificate in Public Health or Environmental Health from a recognised training institution, registered by PHOTC, or equivalent qualification.

English or Kiswahili
C
Biology
C
Mathematics
C-
Chemistry or Physics
C-

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health and disease control.
Field Practical Assessment
Practicum40% of the mark
Assessment of practical skills in community health assessment, disease surveillance and environmental health inspection.
Public Health Research Project
Project30% of the mark
A public health research project on a community health topic, assessed through a written report and oral presentation.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during industrial attachment in a county health department or public health organisation.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Graduates are registered with the Public Health Officers and Technicians Council (PHOTC).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Graduates are registered with the Public Health Officers and Technicians Council (PHOTC).
Public Health Officers and Technicians Council
ProfessionalRequired
Graduates are registered with the Public Health Officers and Technicians Council (PHOTC), the statutory body for public health officers in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Public Health Officer
High demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 180,000
Implements public health programmes, conducts disease surveillance, manages health promotion activities and supports environmental health services in county health departments.
Community Health Worker
High demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 150,000
Supports community health programmes, conducts household visits, provides health education and assists with community health surveys in community organisations.
Disease Surveillance Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 160,000
Supports disease surveillance activities, collects and analyses health data, assists with outbreak investigation and prepares surveillance reports in health departments.
Health Promotion Officer
Moderate demandKsh 36,000 to Ksh 170,000
Designs and implements health promotion campaigns, conducts health education sessions and supports behaviour change communication in health organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as public health officers, community health workers and disease surveillance assistants in county health departments, NGOs and public health institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Public health is the same as clinical medicine.
Public health focuses on disease prevention, health promotion and community health, while clinical medicine focuses on individual patient diagnosis and treatment.
Public health graduates only work in hospitals.
Public health graduates work in county health departments, NGOs, community organisations, research institutions and international health bodies, not only in hospitals.
A diploma in public health has limited career prospects.
Kenya's devolved health system has created demand for public health personnel at county level. Graduates can also progress to a Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
Public health is only about sanitation.
Public health encompasses epidemiology, disease control, health promotion, health policy, nutrition, occupational health and environmental health, far beyond sanitation.